Outsmarting the devil: Total dependance on the Spirit
Ok this should again be a no brainer moment; we are fools to attempt to outmaneuver the enemy of our souls in our own strength.
Easier said than done.
Our old nature conditions us to react certain ways; and as I put forth in regard to myself yesterday; follow a comfortable routine in our daily lives to attempt to maintain some sanity (not that it has helped me much). I get comfort and joy out of these posts too; but realizing it could be removed at any moment through a grid failure (or if I end up saying something that gets me flagged too many times) let's hope I remained focused on serving the Lord. Seeing the word "I" here so much certainly is disconcerting; let it not be about the trinity of me; myself and...well you can fill in the blank.
Anyhoo; I thought it would be prudent to mention an example of where I have slipped before more than once. As in the last post humor is something that can be abraisive; and being sarcastic joking around about anyone no matter how innocent it seems is a no no. There is a time and a place for us to kid around about things if it can be constructive as iron sharpens iron but this is my own cleverness; as perceived on my end and then the other person isn't finding it amusing; let's say. At that point; hopefully things are rectified quickly as I am appalled that I would so easily dismiss what the book of James warns against in regard to the tongue.
My point in the above admission is; well first off I suppose I should offer forgiveness for anything here which may have caused offense except for the Gospel truths themselves; regardless of my delivery of them. My bigger point is that indeed we should make a concerted effort to follow the Spirit and that avoids obvious sins; but the side effect of that is we can build up such a wall of behavior control over certain issues that we ignore others. Our resolve can only work through the Spirit; sadly until He comes we fail.
Ok this should again be a no brainer moment; we are fools to attempt to outmaneuver the enemy of our souls in our own strength.
Easier said than done.
Our old nature conditions us to react certain ways; and as I put forth in regard to myself yesterday; follow a comfortable routine in our daily lives to attempt to maintain some sanity (not that it has helped me much). I get comfort and joy out of these posts too; but realizing it could be removed at any moment through a grid failure (or if I end up saying something that gets me flagged too many times) let's hope I remained focused on serving the Lord. Seeing the word "I" here so much certainly is disconcerting; let it not be about the trinity of me; myself and...well you can fill in the blank.
Anyhoo; I thought it would be prudent to mention an example of where I have slipped before more than once. As in the last post humor is something that can be abraisive; and being sarcastic joking around about anyone no matter how innocent it seems is a no no. There is a time and a place for us to kid around about things if it can be constructive as iron sharpens iron but this is my own cleverness; as perceived on my end and then the other person isn't finding it amusing; let's say. At that point; hopefully things are rectified quickly as I am appalled that I would so easily dismiss what the book of James warns against in regard to the tongue.
My point in the above admission is; well first off I suppose I should offer forgiveness for anything here which may have caused offense except for the Gospel truths themselves; regardless of my delivery of them. My bigger point is that indeed we should make a concerted effort to follow the Spirit and that avoids obvious sins; but the side effect of that is we can build up such a wall of behavior control over certain issues that we ignore others. Our resolve can only work through the Spirit; sadly until He comes we fail.
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